CeNS Develops Special Road Safety Sensor

To ensure the safety of road users, researchers at the centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), have developed a unique road safety sensor to effectively control traffic movement at hazardous curves where accidents often occur. This new material makes great pressure sensor and also energy harversting component.

Road Safety Sensor Development

• Generates energy based on the principle of piezoelectricity with a polymer/polyaniline nanocomposite material.
• For use on movable ramps 100m before dangerous curves
• Upcoming vehicles are warned by the sensor EM video.

Material Composition

• Sensors produced from composite of Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer and vanadium disulphide (VS2)
• VS2: high surface charge leads to the ability of material generating electric power.

Scientific Process

• Nanoparticles of VS2 were formed to enhance the piezoelectric property of the sensor.
• The application of varied amounts of VS2 over a sparse PDMS matrix establishes composite film with improved pressure-sensing and energy-harvesting functionalities.

Research Focus

• The piezoelectric properties of a composite are influenced by nanoparticle surface charge.

Laboratory Demonstration

• A microstripes lab-scale prototype was tested and confirmed to be applicable in a real-world setting.

Publication and Patent

• Research published in Journal of Material Chemistry 
• Potential commercial use: Patent application in India